Charlie Rich: Rollin’ with the Flow

 
Revised at 7:04 p.m.. on Friday, March 18, 2011.




 

(P.S. I coded up a video for this item, but it won't show up. I tried twice to publish it, so far, and I'll try again later when, hopefully, whatever glitch is presently the matter has been resolved.

P.P.S. I just posted the youtube coding unchanged, right on top of the coding that I had sized to fit this blog template, but which didn't work, and now it's working. So, although it's probably just a coincidence that the youtube-sized video box is working, I'm going to leave it as it is for a time. You know the adage, It's best to leave sleeping youtube video boxes lie. Alright, I'll shut up, now.)

Charlie Rich: 1932-1995

Rollin’ with the Flow
By Jimmy Hayes

Once was a thought inside my head,
‘Fore I reached thirty I’d be dead,
But somehow on and on I go,
I keep on rollin’ with the flow.

Folks said that I would change my mind,
I’d straighten up and do just fine,
Ah, but I still love rock ‘n roll,
I keep on rollin’ with the flow,
Keep on rollin’ with the flow.

I got my angel-raising kids,
I’m raisin’ hell, just like I did,
I’ve got a lot of crazy friends,
And they forgive me of my sins.

Some might be callin’ me a bum,
But I’m still out there having fun,
And Jesus loves me, yes, I know,
So, I keep on rollin’ with the flow,
Keep on rollin’ with the flow.

I got my angel-raising kids,
But I’m raisin’ hell, just like I did,
I’ve got a lot of crazy friends,
And they forgive me of my sins.

Can’t take it with you when you’re gone,
But I want enough to get there on,
And I ain’t ever growing old,
So, I keep on rollin’ with the flow,
Keep on rollin’ with the flow.

I ain’t ever growing old,
If I keep on rollin’ with the flow,
Keep on rollin’ with the flow,
Keep on rollin’ with the flow,
Keep on rollin,’
Keep on rollin,’
Keep on rollin’ with the flow,
Keep on rollin,’
Keep on rollin,’
Keep on rollin’ with the flow.



You could tear apart the composition and the lyrics, if you had a mind to, but as a record, it just plain works. The orchestration helps, but mainly it's due to Charlie Rich's piano licks and his seemingly effortless singing of a tricky song.

(With thanks to Richard Schulz.)